Quote:"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.

The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is

wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts

they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,

it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...

And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not

warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of

resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as

to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost

in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from

time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

It is its natural manure."

 

http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog...Quote.EFEC

 

I'll note that the above "quote" is actually two separate passages from Jefferson and leaves out the critical context of his actual meaning.

 

The first part of the quote is preceded by his thoughts on the ignorance that breeds rebellion: "The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive."

 

Between the two parts you have this: "What country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people perserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them."

 

So, his point wasn't that there need be some bloody rebellion every 20 years, or at all. Instead his point was that the people should be heard and maintain a spirit of liberty, and in response the government should be open and assuage any problems rather than crushing any "rebellion."

 

It's sad that his wise words are so twisted by the very insane fringes he was hoping to save from a bloody death at the hands of the government that they don't understand.

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